Regarding what to optimize for promotion: I would say it's choosing the right manager (and peers, to a lesser extent).
I know somebody who has struggled to get promoted for multiple cycles (funnily enough, in the same large group you were in). Then he decided to move, and the new manager went out of her way to get him promoted, and he got it relatively quickly.
I've seen this scenario happen a lot in the last few years.
Yup. If you don't have a manager who works their ass off to help your career, you don't have a good manager. You recognize them by the fact that they usually talk a lot about what management means, and what it should do, and aren't afraid to change that opinion if they learn something new.
Regarding what to optimize for promotion: I would say it's choosing the right manager (and peers, to a lesser extent).
I know somebody who has struggled to get promoted for multiple cycles (funnily enough, in the same large group you were in). Then he decided to move, and the new manager went out of her way to get him promoted, and he got it relatively quickly.
I've seen this scenario happen a lot in the last few years.